Split lever emergency brake

ABSTRACT

A split lever emergency brake system for a recreational vehicle with a lever-actuated braking mechanism for precluding movement of the recreational vehicle upon the actuation thereof. Also included is a tether for wearing by a rider of the recreational vehicle. A release mechanism is coupled to the braking mechanism and the tether for actuating the braking mechanism upon the rider inadvertently falling off of the recreational vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to recreational vehicle emergency brakingsystems and more particularly pertains to a new split lever emergencybrake for immobilizing a recreational vehicle such as a snowmobile orall-terrain vehicle upon a rider inadvertently dismounting the same.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of engine cut off systems is known in the prior art. Morespecifically, engine cut off systems heretofore devised and utilized areknown to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structuralconfigurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by thecrowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment ofcountless objectives and requirements.

Known prior art engine cut off systems and the like include U.S. Pat.Nos. 3,938,613; 4,539,452; 4,520,890; 4,362,524; 5,299,466; U.S. Pat.Des. No. 244,870; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,642,788; 3,957,131; 3,825,092;3,536,153; 3,684,045; and 3,521,718.

In these respects, the split lever emergency brake according to thepresent invention substantially departs from the conventional conceptsand designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatusprimarily developed for the purpose of immobilizing a recreationalvehicle such as a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle upon a riderinadvertently dismounting the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofengine cut off systems now present in the prior art, the presentinvention provides a new split lever emergency brake constructionwherein the same can be utilized for immobilizing a recreational vehiclesuch as a snowmobile or all-terrain vehicle upon a rider inadvertentlydismounting the same.

The general purpose of the present invention, which will be describedsubsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new split leveremergency brake apparatus and method which has many of the advantages ofthe engine cut off systems mentioned heretofore and many novel featuresthat result in a new split lever emergency brake which is notanticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of theprior art engine cut off systems, either alone or in any combinationthereof.

To attain this, the present invention includes a recreational vehiclewith a braking mechanism for precluding movement of the recreationalvehicle upon the actuation thereof. Also included is a tether forwearing by a rider of the vehicle. A release mechanism is coupled to thebraking mechanism and the tether for actuating the braking mechanismupon the rider inadvertently falling off the recreational vehicle.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additionalfeatures of the invention that will be described hereinafter and whichwill form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a newsplit lever emergency brake apparatus and method which has many of theadvantages of the engine cut off systems mentioned heretofore and manynovel features that result in a new split lever emergency brake which isnot anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any ofthe prior art engine cut off systems, either alone or in any combinationthereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new splitlever emergency brake which may be easily and efficiently manufacturedand marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new splitlever emergency brake which is of a durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a newsplit lever emergency brake which is susceptible of a low cost ofmanufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and whichaccordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consumingpublic, thereby making such split lever emergency brake economicallyavailable to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a newsplit lever emergency brake which provides in the apparatuses andmethods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, whilesimultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associatedtherewith.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new split,lever emergency brake for immobilizing a snowmobile upon a riderinadvertently dismounting the same.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a newsplit lever emergency brake for use with a recreational vehicle having abraking mechanism for precluding movement of the vehicle upon theactuation thereof. Also included is a tether worn by a rider of therecreational vehicle. A release mechanism is coupled to the brakingmechanism and the tether for actuating the braking mechanism upon therider inadvertently falling off the recreational vehicle.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated preferred a embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a snowmobile employing one of theembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an auxiliary brake assembly of the embodimentof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of the present invention shown inFIG. 3, showing the invention in greater detail.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the gripping levers of the embodiment of FIG. 4shown separated from the snowmobile.

FIG. 6 is a side exploded view of the present invention showing thegripping levers and spring detached.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a gripping lever of the embodiment of FIG. 8shown separated from the snowmobile.

FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a side exploded view of the embodiment of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 8 showing the gripping levers and springdetached.

FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention shown in a retracted position.

FIG. 11 is a schematic top view of the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention shown in an extended position.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the piston and cylinder of the fourthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic side view illustrating the positioning of thehandle and the brake on the snowmobile.

FIG. 14 is a side view of a hydraulic brake structure of the presentinvention.

FIG. 15 is a top view of a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an exploded view of the upper and lower levers of the fifthembodiment showing the gripping levers and spring detached from eachother.

FIG. 17 is a schematic top view of the upper and lower levers of thefifth embodiment shown in a locked condition.

FIG. 18 is a schematic top view of the upper and lower levers of thefifth embodiment shown in a unlocked condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through18 thereof, a new split lever emergency brake embodying the principlesand concepts of the present invention and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

The present invention may take various forms, one of which includes theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, another of which is shown in FIGS. 3through 6, a third of which is shown in FIGS. 7 through 9, a fourth ofwhich is shown in FIGS. 10 through 12, and a fifth of which is shown inFIGS. 15 through 18.

It should be noted that the invention may be employed on a variety ofrecreational vehicles, including, but not limited to, snowmobiles,all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and other vehicles employing a handgrip with a lever-actuated brake mechanism. For the purposes of thefollowing description, the invention is described in the environment ofa snowmobile, although the teaching may be readily applied to otherrecreational vehicles.

The embodiment of FIGS. 4 through 6 will first be described. Suchembodiment is adapted for use with a snowmobile 60, best shown in FIG.13, with a motorized treaded belt and a hydraulic brake 61 forprecluding the movement of the treaded belt upon the actuation thereof.The snowmobile further includes a handle assembly with a grip 62. Aspring biased push button 63 is mounted on the handle assembly adjacentto an inboard end of the grip for actuating the hydraulic brake upon thedepression thereof via a hydraulic piston 64 (see FIG. 8) that forcesfluid through tubing to a second hydraulic piston 65 attached to thehydraulic brake, shown in FIG. 14.

FIGS. 4 through 6 show a pair of gripping levers 18 each with an arcuateouter surface 20, a planar inner surface 22 and a periphery formedtherebetween. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the periphery defines a thin,elongated arcuate gripping portion 24 and an engagement portion 26. Eachgripping lever has a pivoting aperture 28 formed between the grippingportion and engagement portion. Such pivoting aperture is adapted forbeing pivotally mounted to a bracket 30. This bracket is in turn coupledto the inboard end of the grip of the snowmobile.

In operation, the inner surfaces of the gripping levers are in slidableabutment. Further, the gripping levers are each independently pivotablebetween a first orientation and a second orientation. In the firstorientation, the gripping portion of the gripping lever is spaced fromthe grip and the engagement portion is out of engagement with the pushbutton. In the second orientation, the gripping lever abuts the grip andthe engagement portion resides in engagement with the push button fordepressing the same.

FIG. 6 shows a spring assembly 32 including a pair of recesses 34 formedin the inner faces of the gripping levers. Such recesses are formedabout the pivoting aperture of the gripping levers for defining acompartment. A coil spring 36 is situated within the compartment with apair of ends each connected to a distinct one of the gripping levers.The coil spring functions for urging the gripping levers out ofalignment such that one of the gripping levers is urged into the secondorientation.

Next provided is a trigger assembly 38 including a pair of bores 40formed in the gripping levers. A pin 42 is removably situated within thebores for maintaining both the gripping levers in alignment and in thefirst orientation thereof when not biased by a rider. Upon the riderfalling off the snowmobile, a tether 44 connected between the pin andthe rider removes the pin. The tether preferably takes the form of awaist band or the like. The pin preferably enters the bores from beneaththe gripping levers and further has an annular detent which is adaptedto snappily engage an annular indent formed in one of the grippinglevers.

The embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 will now be described. In thisembodiment, a release mechanism 46 includes a spring biased spool 48about which the tether 49 is wound. A trigger assembly is associatedwith the spool for retracting a wire 50 upon the spool completelyunwinding. This may be accomplished in any of numerous ways. Forexample, the spool may be mounted on a ball screw and have a catchmounted on an end thereof. When the spool is unwound the spool and catchwould move along an axis of the ball screw for engaging another catchwhich is attached to the wire. The wire is in turn connected to arelease arm 52 which actuates an auxiliary brake 54 via spring actionupon the wire being retracted. Note FIG. 2. It should be noted that thebrake associated with the present embodiment includes a flywheel 56 withbrake pads 58 abutting the same when the release arm releases thespring. In use, the present embodiment allows a user to be distancedfrom the snowmobile prior to the same being immobilized.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 through 9, 13, and 14 a snowmobile 60has a motorized treaded belt and a hydraulic brake 61 for precluding themovement of the treaded belt upon the actuation thereof. The hydraulicbrake should clamp down a drive wheel 91 of the snowmobile. Thesnowmobile further includes a handle assembly with a grip 62. A springbiased push button 63 is mounted on the handle assembly adjacent to aninboard end of the grip for actuating the hydraulic brake upon thedepression thereof via a hydraulic piston 64 that forces fluid throughtubing to a second hydraulic piston 65 attached to the hydraulic brake.

A pair of outer gripping levers 66 and an inner gripping lever 67 arepivotally mounted to the grip of the snowmobile. The inner grippinglever is positioned between the outer gripping levers.

Each of the outer gripping levers has an arcuate outer surface 68, aplanar inner surface 69 and a periphery formed therebetween whichdefines a thin, elongated arcuate gripping portion 70 and an engagementportion 71. Each gripping lever has a pivoting aperture 72 formedbetween the gripping portion and engagement portion. Such pivotingaperture is adapted for being pivotally mounted to a bracket 73. Thisbracket is in turn coupled to the inboard end of the grip of thesnowmobile.

In operation, the inner surfaces of the outer gripping levers are inslidable abutment with the inner gripping lever. Further, the threegripping levers are each independently pivotable between a firstorientation and a second orientation. In the first orientation, thegripping portion of the gripping lever is spaced from the grip and theengagement portion is out of engagement with the push button. In thesecond orientation, the gripping portion abuts the grip and theengagement portion resides in engagement with the push button fordepressing the same.

FIG. 9 shows a spring assembly 74 including a recess 75 formed in theinner face of one of the outer gripping levers and defining acompartment. A coil spring 76 is situated within the compartment with apair of ends. One of the ends is connected to the outer gripping leverforming the recess. The other of the ends is connected to the innergripping lever. The coil spring functions for urging the associatedgripping levers out of alignment such that one of the gripping levers,preferably the inner gripping lever, is urged into the secondorientation.

A trigger assembly 78 includes three bores 79 formed in the grippinglevers. A pin 80 is removably situated within the bores for maintainingall three of the gripping levers in alignment and in the firstorientation thereof when not biased by a rider. Upon the rider fallingoff the snowmobile, a tether 81 connected between the pin and the riderremoves the pin. The tether preferably takes the form of a waist band orthe like. The pin preferably enters the bores from beneath the grippinglevers and further has an annular detent which is adapted to snappilyengage an annular indent formed in one of the gripping levers, or a cap82.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 through 14 a snowmobile 60 has amotorized treaded belt and a hydraulic brake 61 for precluding themovement of the treaded belt upon the actuation thereof. The snowmobilefurther includes a handle assembly with a grip 62. A spring biased pushbutton 63 (see FIG. 8) is mounted on the handle assembly adjacent to aninboard end of the grip for actuating the hydraulic brake upon thedepression thereof via a hydraulic piston 64 (see FIG. 8) that forcesfluid through tubing to a second hydraulic piston 65 attached to thehydraulic brake.

A gripping lever 90 is pivotally mounted to the grip of the snowmobile.

The gripping lever has a thin, elongated arcuate gripping portion 93 andan engagement portion 94. The gripping lever has a pivoting aperture 95formed between the gripping portion and engagement portion. Suchpivoting aperture is adapted for being pivotally mounted to a bracket96. This bracket is in turn coupled to the inboard end of the grip ofthe snowmobile.

The gripping lever is pivotable between a first orientation and a secondorientation. In the first orientation, the gripping portion of thegripping lever is spaced from the grip and the engagement portion is outof engagement with the push button. In the second orientation, thegripping portion abuts the grip and the engagement portion resides inengagement with the push button for depressing the same.

The gripping lever has a piston assembly 97 that has a piston 98slidably received in the gripping lever. The piston is positionablebetween a retracted position and an extended position. As shown in FIG.10, the piston is held away from the push button when in the retractedposition by a release pin 99 inserted through a hole in the outer end ofthe piston. As seen in FIG. 11, the piston presses in the push buttonwhen in the extended position. Ideally, the piston assembly includes asleeve 100 coupled to the gripping lever and into which an outer end ofthe piston is slidably inserted. The piston is biased towards theextended position by a spring 101 engaging the sleeve and a flange 102of the piston. When the sleeve is used, the pin is inserted throughholes in the sleeve. The use of the sleeve permits removal of the pistonassembly for cleaning and repair.

Upon the rider falling off the snowmobile, a tether 103 connectedbetween the pin and the rider removes the pin. The tether preferablytakes the form of a waist band or the like. The pin preferably has anannular detent which is adapted to snappily engage an annular indentformed in the piston.

An optional variation 106 of the invention is shown in FIGS. 15 through18, and includes a single inner 108 and a single outer 110 grippinglever. The levers 108, 110 are positioned adjacent to each other, andhave a similar perimeter profile. The inner gripping lever 108 has anear 112 that extends outwardly beyond the profile of the outer grippinglever. A first spring mounting hole 114 is located on the ear of theinner gripping lever, and a second spring mounting hole 116 is locatedon the outer gripping lever. A spring 118 has opposite ends that arelodged in the respective spring mounting holes. The spring is adapted toapply a twisting force between the inner and outer gripping levers suchthat the inner gripping lever is biased away from a position of relativealignment between the inner and outer gripping levers toward a positionof relative misalignment between the levers. The levers are held in arelatively aligned position by the release pin (see FIG. 17), andremoval of the release pin from engagement with the levers permits thespring to move the inner gripping lever out of alignment with the outergripping lever such that a lobe on the inner gripping lever engages thebutton (see FIG. 18).

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of thepresent invention, the same should be apparent from the abovedescription. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the mannerof usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, toinclude variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and mannerof operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obviousto one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to thoseillustrated in the drawings and described in the specification areintended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. In combination, a brake and a recreational vehiclecomprising: a recreational vehicle with a braking mechanism forprecluding movement of the recreational vehicle upon the actuationthereof; a pair of gripping levers being pivotally mounted to a grip ofthe recreational vehicle, wherein the gripping levers are eachindependently pivotable between a first orientation with the grippinglevers spaced from the grip and the braking mechanism being disengagedand a second orientation with the gripping levers being positionedtowards the grip and the braking mechanism being actuated, the grippinglevers being biased out of alignment such that one of the grippinglevers is urged towards the second orientation; a tether for attachmentto a rider of the recreational vehicle; and a release mechanism engagingthe gripping levers and the tether for actuating the braking mechanismupon the rider inadvertently falling off of the recreational vehicle. 2.The combination of claim 1 wherein a spring urges misalignment of thegripping levers.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the releasemechanism includes a release pin coupled to the tether and extendingthrough the gripping levers for allowing the spring to urge theactuation of the braking mechanism upon the rider inadvertently fallingoff of the recreational vehicle.
 4. The combination of claim 1 whereinthe release mechanism is situated on at least one of the gripping leversof the recreational vehicle which also allows manual actuation of thebraking mechanism upon the pulling thereof.
 5. An emergency brakingsystem for use on a vehicle having a hand grip and a braking mechanismadapted for resisting movement of a drive mechanism of the vehicle whenthe braking mechanism is actuated, the system comprising: an innergripping lever and at least one outer gripping lever adapted for beingpivotally mounted to the hand grip of the vehicle, the inner grippinglever being positioned adjacent to the outer gripping lever, the innerand outer gripping levers each having a gripping portion and each beingindependently pivotable between a first orientation and a secondorientation, the first orientation being characterized by the grippingportion of each of the gripping levers being spaced from the grip fordeactuating the braking mechanism and the second orientation beingcharacterized by the gripping portion of each of the gripping leversbeing positioned towards the grip for actuating the braking mechanism; abiasing member for biasing the inner gripping lever toward the secondorientation; a tether for attachment to a rider of the vehicle, thetether having a length; a release mechanism locking the gripping leverstogether for resisting movement of one of the gripping levers withrespect to the other of the gripping levers, the release mechanism beingremovable such that the biasing member is capable of moving the innergripping lever with respect to the outer gripping lever toward thesecond orientation for actuating the braking mechanism, the releasemechanism being coupled to the tether such that movement of the rideraway from the release mechanism a distance greater than the length ofthe tether removes the release mechanism for permitting movement of theinner gripping member toward the second orientation.
 6. The system ofclaim 5 wherein the biasing member comprises a spring urging movement ofthe inner gripping lever with respect to the outer gripping leyer. 7.The system of claim 5 wherein the release mechanism includes a releasepin coupled to the tether and extending through apertures in thegripping levers for locking the gripping levers for rotating together.8. The system of claim 5 in combination with a vehicle comprising asnowmobile.
 9. An emergency braking system for use on a vehicle having ahand grip and a braking mechanism adapted for resisting movement of adrive mechanism of the vehicle when the braking mechanism is actuated,the system comprising: an inner gripping lever and at least one outergripping lever adapted for being pivotally mounted to the hand grip ofthe vehicle, the inner gripping lever being positioned adjacent to theouter gripping lever, the inner and outer gripping levers each having agripping portion and each being independently pivotable between a firstorientation and a second orientation, the first orientation beingcharacterized by the gripping portion of each of the gripping leversbeing spaced from the grip for deactuating the braking mechanism and thesecond orientation being characterized by the gripping portion of eachof the gripping levers being positioned towards the grip for actuatingthe braking mechanism; a biasing member for biasing the inner grippinglever toward the second orientation; a tether for attachment to a riderof the vehicle, the tether having a length; a release mechanism lockingthe gripping levers together for resisting movement of one of thegripping levers with respect to the other of the gripping levers, therelease mechanism being removable such that the biasing member iscapable of moving the inner gripping lever with respect to the outergripping lever toward the second orientation for actuating the brakingmechanism, the release mechanism being coupled to the tether such thatmovement of the rider away from the release mechanism a distance greaterthan the length of the tether removes the release mechanism forpermitting movement of the inner gripping member toward the secondorientation; wherein the at least one outer gripping lever comprises afirst outer gripping lever and a second outer gripping lever, the innergripping lever being positioned between the first and second outergripping levers.
 10. The system of claim 9 wherein the biasing membercomprises a spring urging movement of the inner gripping lever withrespect to the outer gripping levers.
 11. The system of claim 9 whereinthe release mechanism includes a release pin coupled to the tether andextending through apertures in the gripping levers for locking thegripping levers for rotating together.